PRECAUTIONS
General Precautions
Animal studies lasting several weeks at high doses have
shown that prostaglandins of the E and F series can induce proliferation of
bone. Such effects have also been noted in newborn infants who have received
prostaglandin E1 during prolonged treatment. There is no evidence that short
term administration of PROSTIN E2 Vaginal Suppository can cause similar bone
effects.
As in spontaneous abortion, where the process is
sometimes incomplete, abortion induced by PROSTIN E2 may sometimes be
incomplete. In such cases, other measures should be taken to assure complete
abortion.
In patients with a history of asthma, hypo-or
hypertension, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, hepatic disease, anemia,
jaundice, diabetes or history of epilepsy, dinoprostone should be used with
caution.
Dinoprostone administered by the vaginal route should be
used with caution in the presence of cervicitis, infected endocervical lesions,
or acute vaginitis.
As with any oxytocic agent, dinoprostone should be used
with caution in patients with compromised (scarred) uteri.
Dinoprostone vaginal therapy is associated with transient
pyrexia that may be due to its effect on hypothalamic thermoregulation. In the
patients studied, temperature elevations in excess of 2°F (1.1°C) were observed
in approximately one-half of the patients on the recommended dosage regimen. In
all cases, temperature returned to normal on discontinuation of therapy.
Differentiation of post-abortion endometritis from drug-induced temperature
elevations is difficult, but with increasing clinical exposure and experience
with PGE2 vaginal therapy the distinctions become more obviously apparent and
are summarized below:
Endometritis pyrexia |
PGE2 induced pyrexia |
a. Time of onset: Typically, on third post-abortional day (38°C or higher). |
Within 15-45 minutes of suppository administration. |
b. Duration: Untreated pyrexia and infection continue and may give rise to other infective pelvic pathology. |
Elevations revert to pretreatment levels within 26 hours after discontinuation of therapy or removal of suppository from vagina without any other treatment. |
c. Retention: Products of conception are often retained in the cervical os or uterine cavity. |
Elevation occurs irrespective of any retained tissue. |
d. Histology: Endometrium shows evidence of inflammatory lymphocytic infiltration with areas of necrotic hemorrhagic tissue. |
Although the endometrial stroma may be edematous and vascular, there is relative absence of inflammatory reaction. |
e. The uterus: Often remains boggy and soft with tenderness over the fundus, and pain on moving the cervix, on bimanual examination. |
Normal uterine involution not tender. |
f.Discharge: Often associated foul-smelling lochia and leukorrhea. |
Lochia normal. |
g. Cervical culture The culture of pathological organisms from the cervix or uterine cavity after abortion does not, of itself, warrant the diagnosis of septic abortion in the absence of clinical evidence of sepsis. It is not uncommon to culture pathogens from cases of recent abortion not clinically infected. Persistent positive culture with clear clinical signs of infection are significant in the differential diagnosis. |
h. Blood count Leukocytosis and differential white cell counts are not of major clinical importance in distinguishing between the two conditions, since total WBC’s may be increased as a result of infection and transient leukocytosis may also be drug induced. |
In the absence of clinical or
bacteriological evidence of intrauterine infection, supportive therapy for drug
induced fevers includes the forcing of fluids. As all PGE2-induced fevers have
been found to be transient or self-limiting, it is doubtful if any simple
empirical measures for temperature reduction are indicated.
Laboratory Tests
When a pregnancy diagnosed as missed abortion is
electively interrupted with intravaginal administration of dinoprostone,
confirmation of intrauterine fetal death should be obtained in respect to a negative
pregnancy test for chorionic gonadotropic activity (U.C.G. test or equivalent).
When a pregnancy with late fetal intrauterine death is interrupted with
intravaginal administration of dinoprostone, confirmation of intrauterine fetal
death should be obtained prior to treatment.
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Carcinogenic bioassay studies have not been conducted in
animals with PROSTIN E2 due to the limited indications for use and short
duration of administration. No evidence of mutagenicity was observed in the
Micronucleus Test or Ames Assay.
Pregnancy
Teratogenic Effects
Animal studies do not indicate that PROSTIN E2 is
teratogenic, however, it has been shown to be embryotoxic in rats and rabbits
and any dose which produces increased uterine tone could put the embryo or
fetus at risk [see WARNINGS].
Pediatric Use
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not
been established.